NUCLEAR EQUATIONS

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What do nuclear equations show?
Radioactive decay by using elemental symbols
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What form are they written in?
atom before decay ---> atom after decay + radiation emitted
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One golden rule to remember
the total mass and atomic numbers must be equal on both sides
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What happens when an atom emits an alpha particle?
Its atomic number reduces by 2 and its mass number reduces by 4
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Why does the charge of the nucleus decrease when it emits an alpha particle?
Because a proton is positevly charged and a neutron is neutral
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In nuclear equations, what can an alpha particle be written as?
It can be written as a helium nucleus
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What happens when beta decay occurs?
a neutron in the nucleus turns into a proton and releases a fast moving electron (the beta particle)
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When are gamma rays sometimes released?
When a nucleus decays by alpha or beta decay
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What increase is there on the protons when there is a beta decay?
The number of protons in the nucleus increases by 1. This increases the positive charge of the nucleus (the atomic number)
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During beta decay, why doesnt the mass of the nucleus change?
Because the nucleus has lost a neutron and gained proton (protons and neutrons have the same mass)
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What is a beta particle written as in nuclear equations
A small "e" with 0 at the top, -1 at the bottom
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What happens in both gamma and beta emission?
a new element will be formed as the number of protons (atomic number changes)
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What do gamma rays do?
They get rid of excess energy from a nucleus
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Gamma rays dont change what....
They dont change the atomic mass, atomic number or charge of the nucleus/atom
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What form are they written in?

Back

atom before decay ---> atom after decay + radiation emitted

Card 3

Front

One golden rule to remember

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What happens when an atom emits an alpha particle?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Why does the charge of the nucleus decrease when it emits an alpha particle?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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